Against The Day by Thomas Pynchon (2006) - Pynchon’s latest ragtag ramble. The spirit of scientific optimism and progress meets its corruption at the turn of the 20th century. The modern world is born. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

The Sun Years by Howlin’ Wolf (Blues Factory/2000) - Well, Wolf was never actually on the Sun label, but this disc collects some of his early Memphis recordings at Sam Phillips’ studio. Tends to be a little jazzier than his later Chicago tracks for Chess. I dig Willie Johnson’s crunchy yet snazzy guitar work.

Barrett by Syd Barrett (Harvest-EMI/1970) - Syd’s second and final solo album is more controlled and consistent than The Madcap Laughs, perhaps not to its benefit. Good stuff, but I still like him best on his own with an acoustic guitar.

Dicks And Deedees by Jaime Hernandez (2003) - From the late 90s / early 00s pages of Penny Century and Love And Rockets comes the continuing saga of Maggie and Hopey and their friends and foes. Maggie’s getting divorced? Waitaminnit — when’d she get married?!? More fine-line art and narrative from Mr. Hernandez.

Type Z Personality by Bill Griffith (2005) - Documenting the 2005 run of the only syndicated comic strip that matters: Zippy The Pinhead.

She’d Rather Be With Me b/w The Walking Song by The Turtles (White Whale/1967) - A fine proto-bubblegum hit from the former Crossfires, backed with a sort of complicated art-folky piece.

Deep Purple b/w I’ve Been Carrying A Torch For You So Long That I Burned A Great Big Hole In My Heart by Nino Tempo and April Stevens (Atco/1963) - Frisky twang-infused lounge amusements. Fun.

Johnny Get Angry b/w (Theme From) A Summer Place by Joanie Sommers (Warner Bros/1962) - That notorious passive aggressive incitement to domestic violence backed by a somewhat sloshy version of of the then ubiquitous movie theme.